The world today (at least the capitalist world) appears to be affected by a new kind of AIDS identified as Acquired Information (basic) Deficiency Syndrome. Unlike the well known AIDS, this particular type has affected Sri Lankan financial investors very much. In Sri Lanka, this has become an epidemic among the investors due to the following reasons:

1. Putting all eggs in one basket.

2. Offer of high interest rates or returns such as 25% and above, being blindly accepted through sheer greed, not paying attention to the fact that today no business is capable of generating even 20% net profits.

3. Not seeking proper professional advice or even any other advice prior to such investments.

4. Being ignorant of the fact that it is better to pay some income tax rather than try to hide all your income/avoid the tax authorities (many investors are shy to report their losses due to this reason).

5. The rule "Buyer beware" is not understood by many such investors and the following tale of humour may help to understand our mentality:

A Sri Lankan, an Indian and a Japanese, travelling in a car met with an accident. They appeared to be dead but the heavens authorities found that they were entitled to live longer in this world. They were told to pay a sum of Rs. 1000/- to their institutions of worship to revive them. When the police came, only the Japanese was up and conscious and on being questioned, he explained heavens order and said, "I agreed to pay Rs. 1000/- immediately."

"The Indian guy wanted a discount."

"The Sri Lankan guy wanted his government to pay the money."